Blog Post: Is passion at work passe' ?

There's a debate raging about the importance of passion in work.  Employment types and career coaches wax poetically about the importance of finding passion in our jobs.  We fall all over ourselves with emotional appeals and say things like "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." Blah blah blah.  Pass the Kleenex.  I'm getting all choked up.  

Others like Laurie Ruettiman couldn't agree less.  Laurie says that people work because working provides us the means to finance the things we truly care about...our families and our hobbies.  In fact, she thinks we should all just grow up and get over ourselves.  This is a much less romantic and perhaps more realistic view.  I think I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.  Call me a mushy moderate.        

Is all this talk of passion in your job just a bunch of overblown Pollyanna hot air?  Has our tough job market beaten the idealism out of us, making us bitter and resigned?  Are we just a bunch a mercenaries bouncing around to the highest bidder?  I hope not.  If there was ever a time for enthusiasm, this is it.  

Let's not forget the practical ramifications either.  Recruiters are bombarded with responses from candidates if they choose to post a job.  If you make the first cut but show up to an interview with a nasty cynical attitude you've had it.  So, here's my modest proposal.  Regardless of how you feel about the importance of doing work that makes your heart go pitty pat, realize this.  There's genuine utility in approaching your job search with a positive attitude and an open mind.  We never know where an interview or a networking connection or a meeting over coffee will take us.  

What do you think about this?  Is passion important nowadays?  I'd love to hear what you have to say.